Archive for the 'Wes Horton' Tag Under 'USC' Category

** Quarterback Matt Barkley, center Khaled Holmes, safety T.J. McDonald and cornerback Nickell Robey were voted as team captains for the 2012 season. Barkley is the first three-time captain in Trojans history.

** The players worked in full pads but did not tackle. First- and second-team units faced a team consisting of third-teamers and other reserves.

** Backup quarterbacks Cody Kessler and Max Wittek both performed well. Wittek started the second half, but Coach Lane Kiffin said nothing should be read into that. He has yet to name a No. 2 QB.

** Tight end Junior Pomee made several big plays against the first- and second-team defense. However, when he switched over to the second-team offense, he twice lined up in the wrong place.

** Lane Kiffin was pleased with the continued progress of his support players. This is key given the Trojans' lack of experienced depth. "They're going in the right direction," the head coach said. "We're getting some second-tier guys to step up and start to calm down a little bit and learn the playbook."

** The Trojans worked out in no pads. Kiffin said he expected his players to dress in full pads three more times before the Sept. 1 opener against Hawaii.

** Max Wittek, battling for the backup job to QB Matt Barkley, completed two long passes to George Farmer during the workout, both completions coming over a pair of defenders. Kiffin praised Farmer afterward as one of those second-tier players who stood out.

** Defensive end Wes Horton was one of the Trojans who remained out with injury.

With the season opener less than two weeks away, defensive line remains among USC coach Lane Kiffin's lingering concerns. Defensive line coach Ed Orgeron offered the following reality check after Tuesday's practice:

“I know this: They're going to have to improve throughout the season. It's not like we're going to start off like gangbusters. We have to find out what they are and make corrections.”

USC struggled on offense early last season while breaking in new starters at several spots, including offensive line, tight end, receiver and tailback. The back seven on defense has loads of experience, but Orgeron clearly expects the defensive line to endure an adjustment period.

The line features only two players with starting experience: end Wes Horton and tackle George Uko (pictured). Horton, by far the more seasoned of the two, has been in and out of the lineup because of an undisclosed injury. He isn't the only one.

** Projected starting defensive ends Wes Horton and J.R. Tavai returned to practice after missing most of last week. Horton still seemed to be limited because of an undisclosed injury. Tavai appeared to be fully healthy, even running downfield to break up a pass.

** After reviewing the film of Sunday's scrimmage, USC coach Lane Kiffin said another defensive end, Morgan Breslin, was among the standouts.

** Kiffin said the offense performed with a greater sense of urgency after Sunday's sluggish performance. I'll have more on that later.

Quick hitters from USC's second fall scrimmage, conducted Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum:

** The offense was not sharp, and the defense took advantage with five takeaways. Matt Barkley and Max Wittek each threw two interceptions, and Silas Redd fumbled on the first play from scrimmage.

** The scrimmage began with many of USC's star players -- including Robert Woods, Marqise Lee, T.J. McDonald, Nickell Robey and Curtis McNeal -- on exercise bikes as Lane Kiffin kept them out of the live-tackling portion of the workout. Barkley and center Khaled Holmes also spent time on the bikes in the first half.

** Tailbacks Curtis McNeal and Silas Redd and receiver Nelson Agholor took full reps during the no-pads practice after being limited in recent days. McNeal appears to be wearing on a sleeve on his right knee but is showing no ill effects.

** Defensive end J.R. Tavai, who has been in and out of the lineup, took some snaps with the first team. Fellow defensive ends Wes Horton and Greg Townsend Jr. remain out, although Townsend has shed the walking boot he was sporting on his right foot/ankle. Kevin Greene worked at Horton's spot and frustrated tackle Aundrey Walker with an upfield move to stop a running play.

** Right tackle Kevin Graf did not practice for undisclosed reasons.

** Receiver George Farmer had another strong day and is looking increasingly comfortable, especially when catching the ball on the move.

** Offensive tackle Aundrey Walker, who has missed most of the past week because of an apparent right wrist injury, worked with the first-team offense during the no-pads practice. He switched from a wrist brace to tape about halfway through the workout.

** Hayes Pullard returned to practice, giving USC two-thirds of its starting linebacking crew. Pullard worked at middle linebacker while Lamar Dawson remained out. Dawson had a sleeve on his right calf. Anthony Sarao joined Pullard and Dion Bailey with the first unit.

** Tailback Curtis McNeal was in and out of the lineup because of an apparent right knee injury.

** Freshman defensive end DeVante Wilson will miss the 2012 season after tearing the ACL in his left knee Tuesday, USC coach Lane Kiffin announced. Wilson missed last season because of a torn right ACL. Because he didn't enroll until January, he'll still have four years of eligibility after this one.

** Linebacker Dion Bailey, who had missed the previous three practices, participated wearing a yellow no-contact jersey. Bailey had an ice pack on his left shoulder after practice.

** Tailback Curtis McNeal and defensive end Wes Horton did not practice because of undisclosed injuries.

** Receiver Victor Blackwell had his most productive practice in a while, showing no ill effects from the leg injury that slowed him late last week.

No one knows more about USC's talented but inexperienced defensive line than position coach Ed Orgeron. But even Orgeron isn't sure how his charges will fare in an actual game.

"How are we going to react in a game-type situation?" Orgeron wondered Tuesday. "Are we going to make plays? Are we going to make mistakes?

"We have not been dominant at the line of scrimmage since I've been back. To allow us to be where we want to go, this group has to really improve fast."

The Trojans are ranked third in the coaches' poll and have legitimate national-championship aspirations. If they're potentially vulnerable anywhere, it's along the defensive front.

With left end Devon Kennard on the shelf, possibly for the season, the only player with extensive starting experience is senior right end Wes Horton. He and defensive tackle George Uko, a redshirt sophomore who started twice last season, are playing at a "really high level right now," USC coach Lane Kiffin said. And the rest of the linemen?